used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "A hard necessity, friend Tacon," he remarked; "but necessity often compels us to perform unpleasant acts."
actsnounUS /ækts/
a New Testament book describing the development of the early church from Christ's Ascension to Paul's sojourn at Rome
From this reading "A hard necessity, friend Tacon," he remarked; "but necessity often compels us to perform unpleasant acts."
Ah
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ah, yes, it is my unfortunate fate!
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading I am truly much to be commiserated," answered the old pirate.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Captain Gerardin took him back on board the frigate, and, to prevent the possibility of his escaping, put him into irons.
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading I am truly much to be commiserated," answered the old pirate.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Captain Gerardin took him back on board the frigate, and, to prevent the possibility of his escaping, put him into irons.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I am truly much to be commiserated," answered the old pirate.
a committee having supervisory powers
From this reading Captain Gerardin took him back on board the frigate, and, to prevent the possibility of his escaping, put him into irons.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "A hard necessity, friend Tacon," he remarked; "but necessity often compels us to perform unpleasant acts."
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading "Now there is the marquis, up there, in your cabin.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading Captain Gerardin took him back on board the frigate, and, to prevent the possibility of his escaping, put him into irons.
commiserated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I am truly much to be commiserated," answered the old pirate.
compelsverbUS /kəmˈpelz/
third-person singular of “compel” — force somebody to do something
From this reading "A hard necessity, friend Tacon," he remarked; "but necessity often compels us to perform unpleasant acts."
escapingverbUS /ɪˈskeɪpɪŋ/
-ing form of “escape” — run away from confinement
From this reading Captain Gerardin took him back on board the frigate, and, to prevent the possibility of his escaping, put him into irons.
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading "Ah, yes, it is my unfortunate fate!
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading "A hard necessity, friend Tacon," he remarked; "but necessity often compels us to perform unpleasant acts."
frigatenounUS /ˈfrɪɡət/
a medium size square-rigged warship of the 18th and 19th centuries
From this reading Captain Gerardin took him back on board the frigate, and, to prevent the possibility of his escaping, put him into irons.
Gerardin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Captain Gerardin took him back on board the frigate, and, to prevent the possibility of his escaping, put him into irons.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading "A hard necessity, friend Tacon," he remarked; "but necessity often compels us to perform unpleasant acts."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "A hard necessity, friend Tacon," he remarked; "but necessity often compels us to perform unpleasant acts."
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Captain Gerardin took him back on board the frigate, and, to prevent the possibility of his escaping, put him into irons.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Captain Gerardin took him back on board the frigate, and, to prevent the possibility of his escaping, put him into irons.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I am truly much to be commiserated," answered the old pirate.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Now there is the marquis, up there, in your cabin.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Captain Gerardin took him back on board the frigate, and, to prevent the possibility of his escaping, put him into irons.
ironsnounUS /ˈaɪərnz/
metal shackles; for hands or legs
From this reading Captain Gerardin took him back on board the frigate, and, to prevent the possibility of his escaping, put him into irons.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Ah, yes, it is my unfortunate fate!
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Ah, yes, it is my unfortunate fate!
humorist who wrote about the imaginary life of cockroaches (1878-1937)
From this reading "Now there is the marquis, up there, in your cabin.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading I am truly much to be commiserated," answered the old pirate.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "Ah, yes, it is my unfortunate fate!
the condition of being essential or indispensable
From this reading "A hard necessity, friend Tacon," he remarked; "but necessity often compels us to perform unpleasant acts."
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Now there is the marquis, up there, in your cabin.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Captain Gerardin took him back on board the frigate, and, to prevent the possibility of his escaping, put him into irons.
many times at short intervals
From this reading "A hard necessity, friend Tacon," he remarked; "but necessity often compels us to perform unpleasant acts."
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading I am truly much to be commiserated," answered the old pirate.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Captain Gerardin took him back on board the frigate, and, to prevent the possibility of his escaping, put him into irons.
performverbUS /pərˈfɔːrm/
carry out or perform an action
From this reading "A hard necessity, friend Tacon," he remarked; "but necessity often compels us to perform unpleasant acts."
piratenounUS /ˈpaɪrət/
someone who uses another person's words or ideas as if they were his own
From this reading I am truly much to be commiserated," answered the old pirate.
a future prospect or potential
From this reading Captain Gerardin took him back on board the frigate, and, to prevent the possibility of his escaping, put him into irons.
keep from happening or arising; make impossible
From this reading Captain Gerardin took him back on board the frigate, and, to prevent the possibility of his escaping, put him into irons.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Captain Gerardin took him back on board the frigate, and, to prevent the possibility of his escaping, put him into irons.
past form of “remark” — make mention of
From this reading "A hard necessity, friend Tacon," he remarked; "but necessity often compels us to perform unpleasant acts."
Tacon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "A hard necessity, friend Tacon," he remarked; "but necessity often compels us to perform unpleasant acts."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Captain Gerardin took him back on board the frigate, and, to prevent the possibility of his escaping, put him into irons.
in or at that place or location
From this reading "Now there is the marquis, up there, in your cabin.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Captain Gerardin took him back on board the frigate, and, to prevent the possibility of his escaping, put him into irons.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Captain Gerardin took him back on board the frigate, and, to prevent the possibility of his escaping, put him into irons.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading I am truly much to be commiserated," answered the old pirate.
not favored by fortune; marked or accompanied by or resulting in ill fortune
From this reading "Ah, yes, it is my unfortunate fate!
unpleasantadjectiveUS /ənˈplezənt/
offensive or disagreeable; causing discomfort or unhappiness
From this reading "A hard necessity, friend Tacon," he remarked; "but necessity often compels us to perform unpleasant acts."
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "Now there is the marquis, up there, in your cabin.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "A hard necessity, friend Tacon," he remarked; "but necessity often compels us to perform unpleasant acts."
an affirmative
From this reading "Ah, yes, it is my unfortunate fate!
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Now there is the marquis, up there, in your cabin.
